490 STRONTIUM. 



strontian remains in solution, that the liquid yields a white 

 precipitate with carbonate of soda (Dr. Turner.) Most of the 

 salts of strontian, when heated on platinum wire before the 

 blow-pipe, communicate a red colour to the flame. Barytes 

 and strontian in solution, may be separated by hydrofluosilicic 

 acid, which precipitates barytes, but forms with strontian a 

 salt very soluble in a slight excess of acid. Hyposulphite of 

 strontian being soluble, while hyposulphite of barytes is in- 

 soluble, these earths may also be separated by means of hypo- 

 sulphite of soda. 



Peroxide of strontium, obtained by Thenard in brilliant 

 crystalline scales, on adding peroxide of hydrogen to a solution 

 of strontian. It contains two eq. of oxygen. 



Chloride of strontium crystallizes in slender prisms, which 

 contain 9 HO, and are slightly deliquescent. This salt is soluble 

 in three-fourths of its weight of cold water, and in all propor- 

 tions in boiling water. At the ordinary temperature, it dis- 

 solves in 24 parts of anhydrous alcohol, and in 19 parts of 

 boiling alcohol. In this respect, it diifers from chloride of 

 barium, which is insoluble in alcohol. Chloride of strontium 

 communicates to flame a fine red tint. In the anhydrous con- 

 dition, this chloride absorbs 4 eq. of ammonia, and becomes a 

 white bulky powder, 



Carbonate of strontian forms the mineral strontianite, which 

 generally has a fibrous texture, and is sometimes transparent and 

 colourless, but generally has a tinge of yellow or green. Its den- 

 sity varies from 3.4 to 3.726. This salt is said to be soluble in 

 1 536' parts of boiling water. It is more soluble in water con- 

 taining carbonic acid, and occurs in some mineral waters. It 

 retains its carbonic acid when calcined. 



Sulphate of strontian is known as celestine, and occurs in 

 regular crystals of the same form as sulphate of barytes. 

 Its density is about 3.89. It is not sensibly soluble in cold 

 water, but is said to be soluble in 3840 times its weight of boil- 

 ing water. This mineral is found in considerable quantity as- 

 sociated with volcanic sulphur, and in other formations. The 

 various compounds of strontium may be prepared from it, pre- 

 cisely in the same manner as those of barium from the sulphate 

 of barytes. 



Hyposulphite of strontian is cry stall izable, and soluble in 4 

 parts of cold, and if parts of boiling water. It loses 31 per 



